Measurement of calbindin-D9K in small intestinal biopsy specimens of children.

The vitamin D dependent intestinal calcium-binding protein (calbindin-D9K) was measured by an enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay in small intestinal biopsy specimens from 10 children (aged 15-126 months). The aim was to study the relationship between calcium-binding protein and age, bone age, and height. The patients were examined due to complaints of chronic diarrhea, but no evidence of malabsorption was found. The amount of calbindin-D9K per mg of soluble protein in the small intestinal biopsy specimens was higher than previously studied in normal adults. Calbindin-D9K correlated inversely with chronological age, bone age, and height of the children (p = -0.87, rho = -0.66, and rho = -0.66; p less than 0.05). A direct correlation was found between calbindin-D9K and intestinal alkaline phosphatase activity (p = 0.60; p less than 0.05). The decline in calbindin-D9K may indicate that the active vitamin D dependent intestinal calcium absorption decreases during childhood.